Management of network technology selection and display in multi-technology wireless environments

ABSTRACT

Utilization of radio network technology and display thereof are managed when multiple services and radio network technologies are available to a multi-technology mobile device. The management relies at least in part on a subscriber profile that comprises a network selection profile constructed through market policy, subscriber policy, and application policy for radio technology utilization. Network preference(s) profile is generated on per subscriber, or per subscriber type, basis and is conveyed to a subscriber station over the air. Initial subscriber profile can be delivered at a time of provisioning a multi-technology mobile device, and updated based at least upon subscriber demand, a schedule established by a network operator or service provider, or an event related to coverage area relocation or contracted services. Radio technology preferences and display of associated technologies available to a multi-technology mobile device can be dynamically controlled on a per-call and/or per-application basis.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/254,708, entitled “MANAGEMENT OF NETWORK TECHNOLOGY SELECTION ANDDISPLAY IN MULTI-TECHNOLOGY WIRELESS ENVIRONMENTS” and filed on Oct. 20,2008, which is related to commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser.No. 12/254,704, entitled “DEVICE NETWORK TECHNOLOGY SELECTION ANDDISPLAY IN MULTI-TECHNOLOGY WIRELESS ENVIRONMENTS,” filed on Oct. 20,2008. The entireties of each of the above noted applications areincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject innovation relates to wireless communications and, moreparticularly, to controlling and modifying device operation, networkutilization and display when multiple services and radio networktechnologies are available.

BACKGROUND

Wireless network service providers often deploy and support multipletechnology layers within service areas. Commonly, it is incorrectlyassumed that newest radio technology is always best suited to serve mostall or all new and legacy voice and data services on multi-technologycapable mobile devices. While such an assumption may be accurate nearmiddle to end of a radio network technology life-cycle, it rarely isaccurate at the beginning of a radio technology layer deployment.Various aspects of an initial radio technology mitigate adequate serviceto most all or all new and legacy services, as the following examplesreveal it. (i) Initial new-technology installations may lack support forlegacy capabilities. (ii) Initial new-technology deployments may beincomplete and prone to faulty operation, and may cover substantiallyless than the entire service area. (iii) Initial new-technology capacitymay lag mobile device growth and adoption; especially in cases where newwireless devices dominate sales growth as a result of legacy devicesbeing perceived as démodé and relatively unattractive, particularly toearly adopters.

From the perspective of a wireless service provider, commercial factorsalso affect deployment and adoption of new radio technologies, which canserve novel multi-technology devices. Uncontrollable legacy technologytraffic de-growth may have substantial financial implications, and leadto business strategy changes to preserve market share, due toaccelerated depreciation and writeoff of legacy equipment. To avert orcontrol such risks, wireless network service providers often delay newradio technology launch until a commercial transition is ensured. Thelatter can result in additional radio technology deployment delays andcosts that could be mitigated through better control of device behaviorin the multi-technology wireless environments.

From the subscriber perspective, adoption and utilization of new radiotechnologies may is not always correlated with acquisition ofmulti-technology mobile devices that support new radio technologies.Subscribers with new multi-technology devices may or may not require,purchase, or benefit from services delivered through new radio networktechnology.

With respect to wireless devices, multi-technology mobile devicestypically provide limited, if any, capabilities for customizable dynamicradio network selection. Generally, multi-technology devices possesfixed radio technology preference settings, or such settings can beadjusted on a per-operator basis, which narrows capabilities for radionetwork selection on a per device or per service basis. In addition,novel mobile devices are generally configured to preferentially exploita radio network based on novel radio technology, which can lead toinefficient service provision since a novel radio technology is notnecessarily best suited for a served customer or service. Moreover, inmulti-technology mobile devices that support radio technology selectionthere is an increasing reliance upon wireless network control of andsignaling to the mobile device, which can increase delays, processorload and ultimately degrade wireless network capacity. Furthermore,mobile devices that can utilize multiple technologies typically displayan in-use radio technology only, which can fail to provide subscribers arich representation of a wireless environment or service area in whichthe mobile device operates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless environment in which wirelesscoverage can be provided in accordance with aspects described herein.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example system to communicate with amulti-technology mobile station in accordance with a subscriber profilebased on market, subscriber, and application policies for radio networktechnology utilization in accordance with aspects of the subjectinnovation.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example system that facilitatesubscriber profile(s) update in accordance with aspects describedherein.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate schematically subscriber segmentation for twodisparate markets and network selection profile and display profile fora first type of subscriber type, respectively, in accordance withaspects of the subject innovation.

FIG. 5 illustrates schematically example network selection profile anddisplay profile for a second type of subscriber type in accordance withaspects described herein.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a mobile device that can exploit multipleradio technologies based at least in part on a network selectionprofile, and render technological indicator(s) as dictated through adisplay profile in accordance with aspects of the subject innovation.

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate example displays instances of a mobile devicein accordance with a received display profile and user-deviceinteraction as described in the subject innovation.

FIG. 8 presents a flowchart of an example method for establishing asubscriber profile according to aspects of the subject innovation.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an example method for updating a subscriberprofile according to aspects described herein.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an example method for selecting a radiotechnology to operate a multi-technology wireless device in amulti-technology environment according to aspects described herein.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an example method for selecting a radiotechnology for idle mode operation according to aspects describedherein.

FIG. 12 presents a flowchart of an example method for managingapplication behavior through a subscriber profile according to aspectsdescribed herein.

FIG. 13 presents a flowchart of an example method for releasing anapplication according to aspects described herein.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of an example embodiment of a wirelessnetwork platform that can provide wireless coverage in accordance tovarious radio technology resources as dictated through network policiesand subscriber profiles as described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject innovation is now described with reference to the drawings,wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elementsthroughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation,numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the present invention. It may be evident, however, thatthe present invention may be practiced without these specific details.In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in blockdiagram form in order to facilitate describing the present invention.

As used in this application, the terms “component,” “system,”“platform,” “resource,” “layer,” “interface,” “constructor,” and thelike are intended to refer to a computer-related entity or an entityrelated to an operational machine with one or more specificfunctionalities. The entities disclosed herein can be either hardware, acombination of hardware and software, software, or software inexecution. For example, a component may be, but is not limited to being,a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable,a thread of execution, a program, and/or a computer. By way ofillustration, both an application running on a server and the server canbe a component. One or more components may reside within a processand/or thread of execution and a component may be localized on onecomputer and/or distributed between two or more computers. Also, thesecomponents can execute from various computer readable media havingvarious data structures stored thereon. The components may communicatevia local and/or remote processes such as in accordance with a signalhaving one or more data packets (e.g., data from one componentinteracting with another component in a local system, distributedsystem, and/or across a network such as the Internet with other systemsvia the signal).

In addition, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” ratherthan an exclusive “or.” That is, unless specified otherwise, or clearfrom context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the naturalinclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or Xemploys both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any ofthe foregoing instances. Moreover, articles “a” and “an” as used in thesubject specification and annexed drawings should generally be construedto mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from contextto be directed to a singular form.

Moreover, terms like “user equipment,” “mobile station,” “mobile,”subscriber station,” “subscriber equipment,” “access terminal,”“terminal,” “handset,” and similar terminology, refer to a wirelessdevice utilized by a subscriber or user of a wireless communicationservice to receive or convey data, control, voice, video, sound, gaming,or substantially any data-stream or signaling-stream. The foregoingterms are utilized interchangeably in the subject specification andrelated drawings. Likewise, the terms “access point,” “base station,”“Node B,” “evolved Node B (eNode B),” “home Node B (HNB),” and the like,are utilized interchangeably in the subject application, and refer to awireless network component or appliance that serves and receives data,control, voice, video, sound, gaming, or substantially any data-streamor signaling-stream from a set of subscriber stations. Data andsignaling streams can be packetized or frame-based flows.

Furthermore, the terms “user,” “subscriber,” “customer,” “consumer,”“prosumer,” “agent,” and the like are employed interchangeablythroughout the subject specification, unless context warrants particulardistinction(s) among the terms. It should be appreciated that such termscan refer to human entities or automated components supported throughartificial intelligence (e.g., a capacity to make inference based oncomplex mathematical formalisms) which can provide simulated vision,sound recognition and so forth. As utilized herein, the term “prosumer”indicate the following contractions: professional-consumer andproducer-consumer.

As described in greater detail below, the subject innovation presentssystem(s) and method(s) to manage utilization of radio networktechnology and display thereof when multiple services and radio networktechnologies are available to a multi-technology mobile device.Management relies at least in part on a subscriber profile thatcomprises a network selection profile constructed through market policy,subscriber policy, and application policy for radio technologyutilization. The network preference(s) profile is generated on a persubscriber, or per subscriber type, basis, and is conveyed to asubscriber station over the air. It is to be appreciated that asubscriber profile discriminate network technology settings inaccordance to market, mode of operation, and type of application that isconsumed in the mobile device. Accordingly, the subject innovationenables a flexible radio network selection mechanism at the mobiledevice level based upon a per subscriber and per application type basis;radio technology preferences can be dynamically controlled on a per-calland/or per-application basis.

Display of radio network technology is based at least upon availableradio technologies in a wireless environment wherein a multi-technologymobile device operates: After a set of one or more radio technologiesare determined to be available, each technology in the set is displayedin the mobile device. Thus, the subject innovation drivemulti-technology devices to display in-use technology indications inaddition to available radio technology, with the ensuing mitigation ofincorrect subscriber perception of supported network technology in aservice area. At least two advantages of management features, oraspects, of radio network selection and display described in the subjectinnovation are the following. (1) Management does not depend uponcomplex wireless network platform features and signaling, and themanagement is therefore useful for per-call implementation that inconventional systems would be impractical. As a result, wireless serviceproviders can shift network traffic between technologies withoutcreating excessive signaling overhead, application conflicts andincorrect network technology coverage perception by the subscriber.These advantages can mitigate delay and related costs associated withradio technology deployment through lightweight management of devicebehavior with respect to radio technology selection and display in amulti-technology environment. (2) Radio technology display conveysavailable and allowed-to-operate radio network technologies, whichrepresents a service-provider technology support indication, instead ofdisplay of an in-use radio technology.

The subject innovation provides system(s) and method(s) to manageutilization of radio network technology and display thereof whenmultiple services and radio network technologies are available to amulti-technology mobile device. Management relies at least in part on asubscriber profile that comprises a network selection profileconstructed through market policy, subscriber policy, and applicationpolicy for radio technology utilization. Network preference(s) profileis generated on per subscriber, or per subscriber type, basis and isconveyed to a subscriber station over the air. Initial subscriberprofile can be delivered at a time of provisioning a multi-technologymobile device, and updated based at least upon subscriber demand, aschedule established by a network operator or service provider, or anevent related to coverage area relocation or contracted services. Radiotechnology preferences can be dynamically controlled on a per-calland/or per-application basis.

Additionally, display of radio network technology is based at least onavailable radio technologies, as ascertained by a multi-technologydevice that operates in a multi-technology wireless environment. Once aset of one or more radio technologies are determined to be available inaccordance with idle mode operation of the multi-technology mobiledevice, each technology in the set is displayed thereon. Thus, in anaspect of the subject innovation, multi-technology devices displayin-use technology indications in addition to available radio technology,which facilitates accurate subscriber perception of supported networktechnology in a service area.

Aspects, features, or advantages of the subject innovation can beexploited in substantially any wireless communication technology; e.g.,Wi-Fi, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), EnhancedGeneral Packet Radio Service (Enhanced GPRS), Third GenerationPartnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE), Third GenerationPartnership Project 2 (3GPP2) Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), High SpeedPacket Access (HSPA), High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), HighSpeed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA), or LTE Advanced. Additionally,substantially all aspects of the subject innovation can include legacytelecommunication technologies. It should be appreciated that theillustrated selections for radio technology include 2G, 3G, and 4G.However, such selection portrays an illustrative example selection andis not intended as a limitation of the subject innovation and relatedaspects thereof; any radio technology at substantially any deploymentstage can be incorporated within the novel framework of radio technologyselection set forth in the subject innovation.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an example wirelessenvironment in which wireless coverage can be provided in accordancewith aspects described herein. In example wireless environment 100, aservice provider network serves three markets 115 ₁-115 ₃ areillustrated as a set of coverage cells 120, each cell served at least inpart by a base station 130 _(λ) (λ=1, 2, 3). It should be appreciatedthat each market can include more that three coverage cells. The numberof cells in each market generally depends on various factors such asgeography (e.g., a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) or ruralstatistical area (RSA)), radio technology employed for wirelesscommunication, likelihood of adoption of wireless service by prospectivesubscribers in a coverage cell, availability of radio frequency (RF)bands employed for wireless coverage by service network provider 105,and so forth. Coverage cells 120 are illustrated as hexagons; however,coverage cells can adopt other geometries generally dictated by adeployment configuration or floor plan, geographic areas to be covered,and so on. An over-the-air wireless link 135 _(λ), associated with abase station 130 _(λ), facilitates coverage of mobile device 140 _(λ)through transport of signal(s) and traffic, the wireless link 135 _(λ)comprises a downlink (DL) and an uplink (UL), and it utilizes apredetermined band of the radio frequency spectrum. Disparate radiotechnologies utilized for wireless coverage typically utilize disparateRF bands; for instance, 3rd generation radio technology typicallyexploits a broader RF band than a 2nd generation radio technology does.A radio technology can exploit RF bands that are licensed (e.g.,personal communication services (PCS), advanced wireless services (AWS),general wireless communications service (GWCS), and so forth) orunlicensed (e.g., the 2.4 GHz industrial, medical and scientific (IMS)band or one or more of the 5 GHz set of bands).

Base stations 130 _(λ) communicate mutually via backhaul pipes(s) 145,and communicate with wireless network platform(s) 108 through broadbandbackhaul link(s) 165. In an aspect, backhaul pipe(s) 145 and backhaullink 165 can include a wired backbone link (e.g., optical fiberbackbone, twisted-pair line, T1/E1 phone line, a digital subscriber line(DSL) either synchronous or asynchronous, an asymmetric DSL, a coaxialcable . . . ), or a wireless link (e.g., a line of sight (LOS) link likea deep space link, or non-LOS wireless link). It is noted that a set ofbase stations, its associated electronics, circuitry or components, anda set of respective wireless links 135 _(λ) operated in accordance to aradio technology through the base stations, form a radio access network(RAN).

Wireless network platform(s) 108 facilitates circuit switched (CS)-based(e.g., voice and data) and packet-switched (PS) (e.g., internet protocol(IP), frame relay, or asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)) traffic andsignaling generation, and delivery and reception for networkedtelecommunication, in accordance with various radio technologies fordisparate markets. In addition, wireless network platform(s) 108 controland manage base stations 130 _(λ) in disparate markets 115 _(λ) via, forexample, a wireless network management component (e.g., a cellulargateway node). Moreover, wireless network platform(s) can integratedisparate networks (e.g., Wi-Fi network(s), femto cell network(s),broadband network(s), service network(s), enterprise network(s) . . . )In cellular wireless technologies (e.g., 3rd Generation PartnershipProject (3GPP) Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), GlobalSystem for Mobile Communication (GSM)), wireless network platform 108 inis embodied in a core network. In an aspect of the subject innovation,to the accomplishment of wireless telecommunication and managementthereof, wireless network platform(s) includes technology framework(s)150, which comprises components, e.g., nodes, reference points,gateways, and interfaces or reference points, that operate in accordancewith a specific radio technology. Disparate markets are served throughone or more disparate radio technologies as provided by technologyframework(s) 150. Such technologies can present disparate levels ofdevelopment maturity in disparate markets. For example, (i) embryonictechnology, which can be associated with experimental laboratory andfield deployments in specific markets, likely associated with earlyadopters and premium customer segments; (ii) incipient technology withoperation deployment in selected markets for selected subscribersegments; and (iii) operational with development of advanced featuresintroduced; and mature, wherein operational development is concluded andtelecommunication remains effected through a static set of features.Additionally, wireless network platform(s) 108 includes a network policystorage 160 that retains settings, or preferences, to communicate with amobile device (e.g., user equipment 140 ₃) in accordance with at leastone of a market (e.g., market 115 ₃) in which the mobile device(s)operate, a subscriber segment associated with the mobile device, or anapplication exploited by the mobile device. Network policy storage 160also includes settings for device behavior with respect to displayfeatures of radio technologies available for communication.

It should be appreciated that the illustrated selections for radiotechnology include 2G (e.g., GSM), 3G (e.g, 3GPP UMTS, HSDPA), and 4G(e.g., Long Term Evolution (LTE) Advanced); however, such selectionportrays an illustrative example selection and is not intended as alimitation of the subject innovation and related aspects thereof. Anydeployed radio technology at substantially any evolution stage can beincluded within network selection profile(s) 286 and display profile287.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an example system 200 tocommunicate with a mobile station in accordance with a subscriberprofile based on market, subscriber, and application policies for radionetwork technology utilization in accordance with aspects describedherein. Wireless network platform 205 can exploit technology resources210 to communicate wirelessly with a mobile device 295 through radioaccess network 285; specific operation of RAN 185 is dictated by aselected technology resource. Technology resources 155 are specific to aserved market (e.g., market 115 ₂). The wireless communication iseffected in accordance with a network selection profile 286, which candetermine a set of radio technology preferences based at least in partupon market type, subscriber type and application type. The networkselection profile 286 is conveyed to a mobile device 295 over-the-air(OTA) through a base station within RAN 285 that serves the mobiledevice 295. Radio technology preferences establish a utilizationpriority for disparate technology layers 215 ₁-215 _(J) (J is a positiveinteger) available within technology resources 210. For a specificmarket, technology layers 215 ₁-215 _(J) are developed to disparatelevels, and include components that operate in accordance withtechnology standards. In addition, each technology layer 215 _(κ) (κ=1,2 . . . J) has a set of associated components within RAN 285 thatoperate in accordance with corresponding standards.

Network policy constructor 220 establishes a network selection profile286. To that end, network policy constructor 220 determines a set ofpolicies that dictate utilization of technology resources 210 inaccordance with a market, a subscriber, and application served. A firstpolicy in the constructed set of policies is a market policy 248.Construction of this policy, via network policy constructor 220, can bebased on market intelligence 270, which includes economic, competitive,financial, marketplace and other non-technical indicators. Suchindicators adopt values that are rarely ubiquitous among markets. As anexample, economic indicators for a market encompassing an economicallythriving region (as measured through unemployment rates, housingtransactions . . . ) can suggest that the region is likely to adoptlatest telecommunication technology. Competitive indicators can reveal aprojected or actual degree of market share for a service providerregarding a specific radio technology with respect to established or newcompetitors. Financial indicators can convey a level of funds availableto a service provider for development and deployment of newtechnologies. Marketplace indicators can identify and characterizedisparate consumer segments in accordance with available intelligence oncurrent or prospective subscribers which comprise a market. In addition,marketplace can include information on geographical locus of deployment(e.g., urban, metropolitan, or rural area) which can affect serviceofferings viability. Moreover, it should be appreciated that marketplacefactors cn be affected by seasonal influences such as climaticseason(s), which can affect subscriber makeup within the marketplace, asit may be the case is geographic areas the realize large mobilization ofa specific subscriber segments, e.g., retirees visiting Florida orArizona during autumn and winter. Consumer intelligence can includeinformation that characterizes history or behavior of a consumer andrecords of commercial and non-commercial activities involving apurchased product or service, or a combination thereof. As anillustration, marketplace indicators can rely on subscriber intelligencesuch as (i) usage and type of contracted wireless plans (e.g., voice,data, voice and data; residential or business, etc.), including add-onfeatures; (ii) demographics such as age groups, commercialtransaction(s) history and associated metrics (e.g., credit history,credit score), and education level, which can reflect level oftechnological savvy and willingness to contract new services and mobiledevices and exploit new radio technologies, and socioeconomic segment;(iii) cultural background (e.g., ethnicity, religion, cross-culturalexposure, . . . ) which can substantially favorably or detrimentallyinfluence consumption of specific types of applications, and so on.

Market intelligence 270 can be collected by a service provider andretained within an enterprise memory platform (not shown). In addition,market policy 248 is based upon technology intelligence 280, whichincludes information on deployment conditions and development, orevolution, stages of technology layers 215 _(κ) available to wirelessnetwork platform 205 to serve a market. It should be appreciated thatthe level of evolution of each technology layer 215 _(κ) can influencecoverage, capabilities, and capacity of various new and legacy networktechnologies.

As an example, market intelligence 270 and technology intelligence 280can reveal that a service provider has a surplus 3rd generation (3G)telecommunication capacity (e.g., a substantive deployment of basestations with multiple antennas that facilitate multiple-input multipleoutput (MIMO) communication) in a market and thus wireless networkplatform 205 can prefer to serve most traffic through a technology layerthat provides 3G telecommunication. As another example, network policyconstructor 220 can determine a market has relegated development of a 3Gtechnology resource (e.g., technology layers 215 _(J-M)-215 _(J), with Ma positive integer lesser than J) and invested substantially in 4thgeneration (4G) telecommunication capacity (e.g., development ofprotocols within the scope of 4G technology and associatedstandardization, as well as development of electronic circuitry andappliances that operate with such protocols). Thus, for such a market, awireless network platform 205 can prefer 4G telecommunication to serve asubscriber.

In an aspect of the subject innovation, a market policy 248 includes adynamically adjustable set of preference settings that conveypreferences of network technology, or radio technology, to be adopted ina served mobile device 295 and utilized for wireless communication;preference settings defined and adjusted on a per-market basis. Itshould be appreciated that a market policy can include preferencesettings for multiple markets. It should further be appreciated that thedynamic nature of adjustments to radio technology preference settingscan be based at least in part on scheduled events, such as marketroaming, service and maintenance, or technology resources redeployment,which can include upgrades or additions to components within one or moretechnology layers or base stations and electronic circuitry within aRAN. It should further yet be appreciated that a number of marketpolicies per subscriber can be dictated, at least in part, uponoperational features of a served mobile device 295, associated storagecapabilities (e.g., subscriber identification module (SIM) storagecapabilities, universal integrated circuit card (UICC) storagecapabilities, or removable user identity module (RUIM)), and mobilityaspects of the subscriber like inter-market or inter-service networkprovider visitation history, or international roaming history. Amarket-specific code or token that identifies a market policy can bebroadcast by wireless base stations deployed as part of a RAN (RAN 285)through signaling 288; the broadcast can proceed in accordance with oneor more communication standards of the various radio technologiessupported through technology resources 210.

A second policy in the constructed set of policies is a subscriberpolicy 251. Network policy constructor 220 can establish this policybased at least in part on information retained in subscriber data store262. Data on subscriber(s) can reveal relationship(s) between subscriberequipment and contracted service, rate plan, and service usage that maynot be straightforwardly justifiable or logical from a perspective ofnetwork technology resources 210. As an example, a subscriber maypurchase a 4G mobile device for a feature that enhances user-deviceinteraction (e.g., touch-based gestures to command the mobile device),instead of substantive data rates or speed germane to 4G radiotechnology. Particularly, such illustrative subscriber may consumewireless services that are better served on 3G or 2G. Each subscriber,or subscriber segment or type, can be associated at the wireless networkplatform level with a dynamically adjustable set of desired networktechnology, or radio technology preferences to be adopted in a mobiledevice 295. Such set of preference settings can facilitate substantiallymaximum network efficiency, which is typically achieved when subscriberusage is served through a most suitable network technology resources210. Utilization of substantially optimal technology layers 215 _(κ) toserve a subscriber can mitigate unnecessary bandwidth occupation,excessive signaling, and so forth.

In an aspect, to achieve a subscriber policy that promotes substantiallyoptimal wireless network platform performance during atelecommunication, the set of radio technology preference setting(s) andassociated network selection behavior can be based upon at least one ofa subscriber rate plan(s), or a service level agreement(s) (e.g.,guaranteed bitrate, minimum/maximum bitrate, average bitrate, DL or ULbit error rate(s), packet error rate(s), or block error rate(s); DL orUL packet loss rate; link loss/recovery rate, traffic delay or latency .. . ) and resulting quality of service (QoS) expectations, which are apart of subscriber perceived service experience.

In addition, a subscriber policy can be linked to a display profile 287delivered OTA to mobile device 295 that conveys technology indicator(s),or descriptor(s), which controls display of available technologyresources for communication to a subscriber that utilizes mobile device295. In an aspect, profile constructor can establish a display profilebased at least in part upon technology intelligence 280. It is to benoted that conventional wireless communication networks direct mobiledevice(s) to render in-use radio technology rather than radiotechnology(ies) available to the mobile device(s). In another aspect, anend-user perception of value-added can be influenced and modulatedthrough radio technology indicators to be displayed in a mobile device295. In yet another aspect, display profile 287 can be independent ofthe market (e.g., market 115 _(λ)) in which mobile device 295 operates.

A third policy in the constructed set of policies is an applicationpolicy 254. Network policy constructor 220 can determine such policybased at least in part on information retained in applicationintelligence 266. Applications can include applications present in a setof server(s) installed within wireless network platform 205, or dataservices provided by external networks (not shown). Applicationintelligence 266 can include information on configuration of applicationpushed to a served wireless station like mobile device 295, suchinformation can be acquired during provisioning or an update of theserved wireless device. Additionally, application type such as voiceonly, data only, or voice and data; application character likecircuit-switched (CS) traffic or packet-switched (PS) traffic;application requirements such as maximum tolerated delay(s), degree ofdata integrity like tolerated packet loss, and so forth. Moreover,historic information on the frequency and type of applications primarilyutilized by an end user of the served wireless device can be included inapplication intelligence 266; for instance, such information can becollected through signaling 288, when a packet data protocol (PDP)context is authorized and created via a gateway node (not shown) withinwireless network platform 205. It should be appreciated that variouswireless application requirements may be supported on a single ormultiple network technologies (e.g., technology layers 215 ₁-215 _(J))at a any specific time during operation of wireless network platform205; a timeline can affect radio technology offerings to cover mobiledevice 295 as deployment of additional technology resources 210 can beimplement, or development of one or more technology layers 215 _(κ) canbe conducted. As an example, voice applications may be supportedinitially on 3G and 2G radio technology, as deployed technology layers215 _(κ) can provide such level of coverage, and 4G, 3G and 2G at alater time after additional technology resources are deployed. Asanother example, voice applications, or calls, can be served via legacyCS facilities, 3G as embodied in voice over internet protocol (VoIP)over HSDPA, or 4G as embodied in LTE Advanced, as 3G and 4G becomeavailable radio technology through development and deployment ofsuitable technology layers 215 _(κ). As an alternative or additional,example, application that concomitantly delivers voice and data may besupported initially on 3G radio technology substantially exclusively,while 4G and 3G coverage can be added at a later instance of wirelessnetwork platform 205 development. As yet another example, real-time dataapplications with extremely substantially tight latency, or delay,requirements may be adequately served through 4G technology resourcesexclusively. In the subject innovation, application policy 254 includesa set of dynamically adjustable set of desired network technology, orradio technology, preference settings to be adopted in a served wirelessdevice. For applications supportable on a single technology, a“preference setting” can be reduced to, or be represented by, an“admission flag,” wherein a data service request (e.g., creation of aPDP context via signaling 288) set forth by wireless network platform ormobile device 295 can be rejected in the mobile device 295 when arequired radio technology is unavailable; availability or lack thereofcan be probed at the wireless device level through control scans of aradio signal environment.

Based upon network selection profile 286 and display profile 287,profile constructor 230 can compile, or establish, a subscriber profile.A simple subscriber profile may contain network selection preferencesfor home market (e.g., market 115 ₁), home provider and Roaming (e.g.,markets 115 ₂ and 115 ₃). A complex subscriber profile (e.g., for afrequent traveler who visits disparate markets at a high rate) caninclude network selection preferences for a home market (e.g., market115 ₁) and each visited market (e.g., markets 115 ₂ and 115 ₃) within asame service provider network or a disparate service network provider.Subscriber profile at the subscriber level can be identified through atleast one of an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), aninternational mobile equipment identifier (IMEI), a mobile directorynumber (MDN), a mobile identification number (MIN), or a multi-bitidentification number like the mobile identity number (MEID). It isnoted that substantially any code or token that uniquely identifies asubscriber or a mobile device associated therewith can be employed toidentify a subscriber profile. As an example scenario, profileconstructor 230 can compile a simple initial profile that is aggregatedwith additional network selection preferences and technologydescriptor(s) related to a visited market: Upon arrival in a new market(for example, revealed through a Location Area/Routing Area updateprocedure completion), an additional set of network preference settingsand display profile can be created for the subscriber. Such subscriberprofile(s) can be retained in a memory element 258 within memory 240.Memory element 258 can be a part of a conventional home locationregister (HLR), or it can reside within a memory platform external, oroffline, to wireless network platform 205.

It is noted that in example system 200, wireless network platform 205includes, or is functionally connected to, a processor configured toconfer at least in part the described functionality of the variouscomponents included in the wireless network platform 205. The processor(not shown) can execute code instructions (not shown) stored in memory240, or a memory component thereon, to provide the describedfunctionality. It should be appreciated that the processor can be acentralized element or be distributed among the various referencedcomponents.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example system 300 that facilitatesubscriber profile(s) update in accordance with aspects describedherein. Network selection profile 286 and display profile 287 can bedelivered to a subscriber station (e.g., mobile device 295) duringprovisioning of thereof, and as schedule-based or event-based changesoccur. To facilitate delivery of a subscriber profile—network selectionprofile 286 and display profile 287—, profile update component 305 isfunctionally connected to memory element 258 or a storage platform thatretains subscriber profile(s). Profile update component 305 includesgateway node(s) 310 and an update server 320, which can be anapplication server(s) such as a wireless application protocol (WAP)server, or a web server. Gateway node(s) 310 and update server 320embody a dedicated data pipe to push subscriber profile updates OTA tosubscriber(s). In addition, such connectivity can facilitate to receivetrigger indication(s) (e.g., a short message service (SMS), a reservedbit in a frame of a control channel or in a packet header, a multi-bitword communicated in a control channel . . . ) from a mobile device 295through signaling 330 to update a subscriber profile(s) upon mobility(e.g., inter-market roaming). It should be appreciated that signaling330 can include signaling 288. In an aspect, updates to subscriberprofile(s) 258 can be delivered either via (i) existing SMS mechanismsutilized for legacy roaming profiles or (ii) network-initiated PDPacross profile update component 305, and the dedicated data pipecomponents comprised therein. In scenario (i), an SMS Wakeup/WAP Pushmessage is conveyed to mobile device 295, upon such message isacknowledged via signaling 330, update server 320 pushes subscriberprofile updates to mobile device 295. In scenario (ii), when an updatetrigger indication is received, gateway node(s) 310 authenticates thetrigger indication and generates a PDP context with an access point name(APN) anchored in gateway node(s) 310 and associated with update server320 as a packet data network. Once the update PDP context is active,profile update component 305 conveys an updated network selectionprofile 286 and display profile 287 to mobile device 295 through RAN 285and associated wireless link 135.

Completed updates can be acknowledged (e.g., via ACK indication, one ormore reserved bits in a packet header, a light-payload (e.g., 1-3 bytes)data packet, a predetermined multi-bit word conveyed in a radio framewithin a control channel . . . ) through signaling 330 by a mobilestation (e.g., mobile device 295) that receives the update, and theacknowledgement collected by profile updated component 305. In theabsence of an ACK indication, profile update component 305 can employvarious retry mechanisms until update confirmation is received, or theprofile update component 305 logs a “failed update” flag in memory 240after a predetermined number of retry attempts. Subscriber profileupdates can be effected on-demand (whereby customer service interventionconveys an update trigger indication, for example); scheduled inaccordance with predetermined times set by update server 320 or othernetwork management component within wireless network platform 205; orevent-based (upon arrival in a new market, for example). Illustrativeexample events that can trigger subscriber profile updates include, butare not limited to, changes in the following aspects: (i) market networkcapability or technology resources support; (ii) subscriber rate plan orusage profile; (iii) capacity migration and marketing plans; and (iv)subscriber relocation to a new market. To reduce loading and complexityof a wireless network platform 205, subscriber profiles and updatesthereof can be delivered only for a served market: A change to a servedmarket policy can be sent real-time or as per schedule, while non-servedmarket policy updates can be sent upon market arrival only. At least twoadvantages of such update mechanism are to (1) eliminate unnecessarydata traffic (for example, in case(s) a subscriber rarely visits achanged market) and (2) randomize, or uncorrelated, timing of updates sodata traffic “spikes” are less likely to be generated by massivesubscriber profile changes.

It is noted that in example system 300, wireless network platform 205includes, or is functionally connected to, a processor configured toconfer at least in part the described functionality of the variouscomponents included in the wireless network platform 205. The processor(not shown) can execute code instructions stored in memory 240, or amemory component thereon, to provide the described functionality. Itshould be appreciated that the processor can be a centralized element orbe distributed among the various referenced components.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate schematically example subscriber segmentationfor two disparate markets and network selection profile and displayprofile for a first type of subscriber type, respectively, in accordancewith aspects described herein. With respect to FIG. 4A, In diagram 400,a first market M_(A) 410 serves a set of subscribers that can be groupedin three illustrative segments 415 ₁-415 ₃ ordered in categories ofdecreasing commercial value to a service provider; segment 1 415 ₁encompasses category A, or high-end subscribers that consume asubstantive number of data services and provide substantial revenue. Itshould be appreciated that subscriber segmentation is facilitated byinformation retained in subscriber data store 262. In the subjectillustrative scenario, market M_(A) 410 possess an operational, yetimmature, deployment of 4G network technology resources and is a homemarket for subscribers in segment 1 415 ₁. For subscriber on segment 14151, an associated network selection profile(s) 426 includes preferencesettings for radio technology utilization, and display profile(s) 427conveys technology descriptors that dictate display behavior orsubscriber stations for end users in segment 1 415 ₁.

Additionally, a second market M_(B) 430 with mature deployed 4Gtechnology resources encompasses four subscriber segments 435 ₁-435 ₄.Segment 1 435 ₁ is a high-end category of subscribers. In an aspect, asource of a fourth subscriber segment in market M_(B) 430 can be asection of a marketplace associated with retired individuals thatcontract wireless services other the conventional voice telephony likewireless broadband connectivity, such services can be employed forsocial networking. In an aspect, network selection profile(s) 446 can bean aggregate of network selection profile(s) 426 and radio technologypreference settings adequate for efficient communication in market M_(B)430 and display profile(s). Display profile(s) 447 can be an aggregateof technological indicator(s) in display profiles(s) 427 or it can be asubstantially unchanged profile of technological descriptor(s).

FIG. 4B is a depiction of an example network selection profile 455 for asubscriber within a high-end, top-category subscriber segment inaccordance with aspects described herein. Network selection profile 455is the result of aggregation of a network selection profile for firstmarket M_(A) 410 and second market M_(B) 430. Each market entry innetwork selection profile 455 reveals a service operator indication(“Operator A”) and a market code M_(ν) with ν=A, B. For each market, a“Mode” tier includes a set of preference settings ordered in accordancewith priority. In case of market M_(A), telecommunication in idle mode458 _(A) is preferred to take place through 2G technology layer(s),e.g., a served mobile device is to camp in one or more 2G technologylayers, unless such technology resources are unavailable, in which case3G and 4G radio technology resources should be employed. In active mode,a set of radio technology preference settings is conveyed for“Application Type,” wherein voice only communication 461 _(A) ispreferred to exploit 2G radio technology, followed by 3G and 4G; voiceand data application(s) 463 _(A) is to be effected through 3G, 4G, and2G radio technologies; and radio technology preferences for data onlyapplication(s) can be further distinguished into non-real time servicepreferences 465 _(A) which indicate to exploit 3G technology first and4G and 2G subsequently, and real-time service preferences 467 _(A) whichconvey to employ 4G technology resources, followed by 3G and 2G radiotechnologies. In addition, display profile 475 can be market agnostic,with technology descriptor(s) 478 and 481 for mobile device idle andactive mode, respectively, indicating to display substantially allavailable technologies (e.g., 4G, 3G, and 2G) that wireless networkplatform can employ for wireless communication.

It is to be noted that network selection profile 455 and display profile475 can be formatted in accordance with various schemas, such ashypertext markup language (HTML) and extensible markup language (XML)and variants (e.g., state chart XML (SCXML)), that are portable amongcomputing platforms, wireless (e.g., a portable computer or mobiledevice) or otherwise, and object-oriented computing languages employedby a wireless device such as Delphi, Visual Basic, Python, Perl, Java,C++, and C#, and circuitry programming level languages such as Verilog.

Network selection profile(s) 286 and display profile(s) 287 aremanagement instruments for mobile device operation that do not rely onsubstantive network signaling, and thus can reduce mean processor loadand peak processor load within control-plane gateway and serving nodes,as well as control-plane server(s).

FIG. 5 is a diagram 500 of an example network selection profile anddisplay profile for a second type of subscriber in market M_(A) 410,which possess an operational, yet immature, 4G radio technology network.As an example, the subscriber can be within low-end segment 3 415 ₃, ahave a low level of service consumption and thus revenue generation fora service provider. In accordance with network selection profile 555,radio technology preferences for idle mode include 2G as a priorityselection, followed by 3G and 4G. For active mode, voice onlyapplication(s), preference settings 561 _(A) dictate to execute theapplication via 2G radio technology primarily, and 3G and 4G in case 2Gbandwidth and capacity is heavily utilized at a time the voiceapplication is launched. For voice and data application(s), selectionpreference 563 _(A) sets forth 3G radio technology as a priorityresource, and 4G and 2G as subsequent choices; it is to be noted that 2Gtechnology resource(s) is assigned the least priority since theapplication involves data traffic in addition to voice. It is to benoted that since the subscriber is in a low-end segment, networkselection profile includes a modifier (OPT) that prompts the subscriberto accept medium per-use (e.g., a session, or a predetermined timeinterval) data charges for utilization of 3G radio technology resources.In case of data-only application(s), for non-real time data service(s),network selection profile 555 indicates 3G as a first choice, and 4G and2G as second and third choices. A modifier entry in the profile is alsoincluded in the network selection profile to facilitate to prompt thesubscriber to accept medium per-use data charges. For real-time dataservice(s), preference settings 567 _(A) prioritize 4G radio technology,with 3G and 2G radio resources completing the three-tier preference. Amodifier entry in the profile prompts the subscriber to accept highper-use data charges to benefit from available 4G technology layers thatserve market M_(A) 410.

With respect to display profile 575, for the low-end subscriber insegment 3 415 ₃ of market M_(A) 410, in idle mode a mobile station is todisplay an indicator for 2G radio technology resources, while for activemode of operation, an in-use network is to be displayed. In addition tothe 2G technology indicator, in view of the modifier entries (OPT), aserved wireless device displays prompt(s) for premium services within anetwork display indicator. Accordingly, a subscriber within segment 415₃ is made aware explicitly of a lack of subscribed, or contracted,premium data services.

It is to be noted that selection of idle mode radio technologypreferences can be dictated by battery draw characteristics of a mobiledevice for disparate radio technologies within radio resources 210available to a wireless network platform 205. Regardless of suchselection, ad discussed above, radio technology is adapted to a radiotechnology compatible with preferences established within a networkselection profile 286 for active mode when a call (e.g., voice call ordata session, or both) start. Typically, such characteristics aresubstantially noticeable among disparate radio technologies. Idle moderadio technology selection preferences can be prioritized to promoteidle-mode camping on a most battery-efficient radio technology. Forexample, in a market M_(ν), for a subscriber segment comprised primarilyof early adopters, 2G (e.g., GSM) technology can be the only radiotechnology preferred for idle mode operation for a new type of mobiledevice known to exhibit substantive battery draw in other radiotechnologies. Generally, irrespective of market or subscriber segment,idle mode battery issues known for specific mobile devices can beaddressed at least in part within the subject innovation, through properselection of idle mode radio preferences. It should be appreciated,however, that one or more type of wireless devices can be mostinsensitive to idle mode battery drain characteristics, in which case(s)idle mode radio technology preferences do not depend uponbattery-efficiency considerations.

It is to be further noted that in the example network selection profilefor low-end subscriber, network selection is substantially the same ashigh-end. A reason for such profile aspect is to exploit or chose a mostefficient network in order to minimize operational cost(s) andservice(s) price points for high-end and low-end subscribers. Theoperational difference in the subscriber plane is in end-user interfaceand feedback.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an embodiment 600 of a mobile device thatcan exploit multiple radio technologies based at least in part on anetwork selection profile, and display technological indicator(s) asdictated at least in part through a display profile in accordance withaspects of the subject innovation. In an aspect, mobile device 610embodies mobile device 295. In mobile device 610, which can operate inmulti-technology multimode, a set of antennas 669 ₁-669 _(K) (K is apositive integer) can receive and transmit signal(s) from and towireless devices like base stations, access terminals, wireless portsand routers, and so forth, that operate in a radio access network, e.g.,RAN 285. It should be appreciated that antennas 669 ₁-669 _(K) are apart of communication platform 605, which comprises electroniccomponents and associated circuitry that provide for processing andmanipulation of received signal(s) and signal(s) to be transmitted. Inan aspect of the subject innovation, communication platform 605 canreceive a network selection profile(s) 679 and a display profile(s) 677,which are part of a subscriber profile, and retain, through processor665, the network selection profile(s) 679 and display profile(s) 677 inmemory 675. In addition, communication platform 605 can acknowledge areceived subscriber profile and can convey an indication to update thereceived subscriber profile in accordance with aspects describedhereinbefore in connection with mobile device operation in examplesystems 200 and 300.

In an aspect, communication platform 605 includesreceiver(s)/transmitter(s) 606 that can convert signal from analog todigital upon reception, and from digital to analog upon transmission. Inaddition, receiver/transmitter 606 can divide a single data stream intomultiple, parallel data streams, or perform the reciprocal operation;such operations typically conducted in various multiplexing schemes.Functionally coupled to receiver(s)/transmitter(s) 606 is amultiplexer/demultiplexer (mux/demux) component 607 that facilitatesmanipulation of signal in time and frequency space. Electronic mux/demuxcomponent 607 can multiplex information (data/traffic andcontrol/signaling) according to various multiplexing schemes such astime division multiplexing (TDM), frequency division multiplexing (FDM),orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), code divisionmultiplexing (CDM), space division multiplexing (SDM). In addition,mux/demux component 667 can scramble and spread information (e.g.,codes) according to substantially any code; e.g., Hadamard-Walsh codes,Baker codes, Kasami codes, polyphase codes, and so on. Amodulator/demodulator (mod/demod) component 668 is also a part ofcommunication platform 605, and can modulate information according tovarious modulation techniques, such as frequency modulation (e.g.,frequency-shift keying), amplitude modulation (e.g., M-ary quadratureamplitude modulation (QAM), with M a positive integer; amplitude-shiftkeying (ASK)), phase-shift keying (PSK), and the like. In an aspect ofembodiment 600, mod/demod component 608 is functionally coupled tomux/demux component 667. In embodiment 600, processor 635 facilitates,at least in part, mobile 610 to process data (e.g., symbols, bits, orchips) for multiplexing/demultiplexing, modulation/demodulation, such asimplementing direct and inverse fast Fourier transforms, selection ofmodulation rates, selection of data packet formats, inter-packet times,etc.

In embodiment 600, multimode chipset(s) 645 allows mobile 610 to operatein multiple communication modes through various radio networktechnologies (e.g., 2G, 3G, 4G . . . ) in accordance with disparatetechnical specifications, or standard protocols, for the radio networktechnologies. In particular, multimode operation chipset(s) 615 utilizescommunication platform 605 in accordance with the standard protocolsspecific to a mode of operation. In another aspect, multimode operationchipset(s) 615 can be scheduled to operate concurrently (e.g., when K>1)in various modes or within a multitask paradigm. A technology selector615 can operate, or drive operation of, multimode chipset(s) 645 throughselection and realization of one or more radio network technologies forcommunication in a specific telecommunication mode. In an aspect of thesubject innovation, as described above, selection of a technologyresource is dictated at least in part via network selection profile(s)679, which can be retrieved from memory 675 by technology selector 615in order to implement network selection preferences. It is to be notedthat technology selector 615 can exploit fail-safe algorithm(s) 683 whenmemory 675 fails to retain display profile(s) 677 and network selectionprofile(s) 679.

It is to be noted that technology selector 615 dictates, at least inpart, the behavior of mobile device 610 in active mode withoutsubstantive reliance on wireless platform network signaling. To adopt aradio technology in accordance with a network preference setting, radiotechnology availability is to be ascertained, which can be effected inidle mode. In an aspect of the subject innovation, scanner component 625determines available radio technologies in at least three modes: (a)Passive, (b) active, and (c) hybrid. In (a), scanner component 625 canperiodically scan all capable technologies and EM radiation bands (e.g.,RF bands, microwave bands . . . ) in order to ascertain radio technologyavailability within a wireless environment; the period of each scan canbe determined in operation algorithm(s) (not shown) retained in memory675. A scan includes detection of pilot signal(s) received from awireless network platform through a radio access network (e.g., RAN235). Pilot signal strength measured per band or per channel can becontrasted with minimum radio link quality, or signal strength, criteriareceived through broadcast system-information messages for idle modecamping or cell synchronization. It should be appreciated that, in anaspect, signal strength and channel quality can be determined throughmeasurements over a set of time-frequency resources of signal-to-noiseratio(s) (SNRs), signal-to-interference ratio(s) (SINRs) orsignal-to-noise-and-interference ratio. Mobile device 610, throughscanner component 625 can determine whether a radio technology isavailable in accordance with the foregoing criteria as described instandard protocol(s) for a radio technology layer(s). In particular, fora radio technology, most any measured pilot signal with adequate signalstrength and quality that meets broadcast system information messages isto be deemed available. In (b), radio scannings are mitigated. Asopposed to active mode (e.g., blind scanning, and decoding, of all radioresources of a serving network), in passive mode scanner component 625can exploit system information broadcast messages conveyed by a radiotechnology that serves mobile device 610 to drive or streamline radioscanning(s) to establish radio technology availability. As an example, a2G radio technology (e.g., GSM) can convey in a broadcast channel, for aspecific coverage area (e.g., a sector or cell), information related toneighbor cells that operate in disparate technologies like 3G (e.g.,3GPP UMTS) or 4G (e.g., LTE Advanced). Thus, scanner component 625ascertains available radio technologies in the wireless environment ofthe coverage area without execution of a radio scanning. Hybrid mode (c)exploits system information received in broadcast messages to drive, orstreamline, a radio scanning to ascertain radio technology availability.It should be appreciated that hybrid mode of operation can be effectedwhen broadcasted system information fails to unambiguously deliverinformation that reveal one or more available radio technologies in awireless environment. At least one advantage of passive and hybrid modesis mitigation of mobile device battery drain and ensuing extension ofbattery life, particularly when supported by system informationbroadcast messages from legacy technologies. Scanner component 625 canretain availability indicators (not shown) in memory 675. Scannercomponent 625 can convey available technology layer(s) to technologyselector 615 in order to implement network selection preferences asprovided in network selection profile(s) 679. Additionally, scannercomponent 625 can convey via processor 665 available radio technologiesto display interface 635.

Mobile device 610 also includes a functional platform 655 that comprisesa set of components (not shown) that provide, at least in part, one ormore specific functionalities that complement or supplement wirelesscommunication. As an example, in a case mobile device 610 is atelephone, functional component includes functional elements such as adata entry interface (e.g., a keyboard, a biometric pad forbiometric-based access, a microphone, a loud speaker . . . ), a camera,peripheral connectors (e.g., a USB port for transferring data to adisparate device), a voice coder-decoder (vocoder), and so on. It shouldbe appreciated that functional platform 655 can exploit applicationsstored in application(s) storage 681 within memory 675 to provide one ormore functionalities. In an aspect of the subject innovation, technologyselector 615 can exploit one or more drivers in application(s) storage681 to interface with functional platform 655, via processor 665, toproperly realize and execute radio technology and application(s)combinations in mobile device 610.

As indicated above, functionality of mobile device can rely at least inpart on execution of a set of one or more applications retained inapplication(s) storage 681; processor 665 can be configured to initiate,launch, or terminate execution of the set of applications. In an aspectof the subject innovation, mobile device 610 can exploit applicationcombinations within a single radio technology in accordance at least inpart to network selection profile(s) 679. When mobile device 610, viaprocessor 665, launches multiple simultaneous applications that havedisparate network selection priorities, mobile device 610 selects asingle radio technology that suits all launched application andrepresents substantially the substantially best performance compromise.For example, a combination of a voice-only application with radiotechnology preference setting {2G, 3G, 4G} with a real-time data-onlycall with {4G, 3G, 2G} preference settings can be best served on 3Gtechnology resources, which can support both application types.

In an aspect of the subject innovation, technology selector 615 canimplement cost-utility analysis to determine which radio technology, ortechnology layer(s), provides a substantially best performance. To thatend, technology selector 615 can exploit artificial intelligence (AI)methods to infer (e.g., reason and draw a conclusion based upon a set ofmetrics, arguments, or known outcomes in controlled scenarios) suitabletechnology layer(s) that provide efficient service of applications withdisparate network selection preferences. Artificial intelligencetechniques typically apply advanced mathematical algorithms—e.g.,decision trees, neural networks, regression analysis, principalcomponent analysis (PCA) for feature and pattern extraction, clusteranalysis, genetic algorithm, or reinforced learning—to a data set; e.g.,the collected subscriber intelligence in the case of subscribersegmentation.

In particular, to select a radio technology with a favorablecost-utility metric, technology selector 615 can employ one of numerousmethodologies for learning from data and then drawing inferences fromthe models so constructed. For example, Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) andrelated prototypical dependency models can be employed. Generalprobabilistic graphical models, such as Dempster-Shafer networks andBayesian networks like those created by structure search using aBayesian model score or approximation can also be utilized. In addition,linear classifiers, such as support vector machines (SVMs), non-linearclassifiers like methods referred to as “neural network” methodologies,fuzzy logic methodologies can also be employed.

In another aspect related to application(s) utilization, upon initiationor launch of application(s), mobile device 610 can change radiotechnology in accordance to application type preferences, orrequirements, established in network selection profile(s) 679. As anexample, in illustrative network selection profiles 455 and 555, radiotechnologies {4G, 3G, 2G} have been set forth for data-only real-time,or streaming, services. Accordingly, in an aspect, mobile device canautonomously leave 2G idle mode, for example, and initiate a datasession on 4G technology unless unavailable, in which case 3G technologytakes precedence over 2G technology. The device will therefore notrequire nor follow a technology-specific directed retry or redirectmessage from the idle mode network to the target network.

In accordance to idle mode behavior requirements for network selection,mobile device 610, e.g., through scanner component 625, is to be awareof available technologies at most all or all times. In a scenario inwhich a requested application type can operate with a singlepredetermined radio technology, and such required technology isunavailable, mobile device 610 can block application(s) access attemptsand provide subscriber notification. At least another advantage ofmanagement of application launch as described herein is that mobiledevice 610 can administer launch of an application without reliance onsignaling from a serving wireless network platform, which reduces thewireless network platform operational burden. As a non-limitingillustration, a voice and data network selection preference setting mayinclude 3G technology only; thus, mobile device 610 can block executionof such applications at the device level when 3G radio technology is notavailable.

In a further aspect related to application execution, when anapplication is released, mobile device 610 can autonomously return tooperation in idle mode in the highest priority radio technology that isavailable; the highest priority dictated by network selection profile(s)679. At least an advantage of such release mechanism is that mobile 610device neither requires nor follows a radio technology-specific channelrelease from a serving wireless network platform; thus, signaling therefrom and load thereof are reduced. When the idle mode radio technologyis same as a radio technology prior the application launch, and mobiledevice 610 remains to operate within an original location like a cell,or sector within a cell, and thus has the same LAC and RAC, the mobiledevice 610 will not initiate location area update (LAU) or routing areaupdate (RAU) procedure(s). Conversely, when mobile device 610 relocatesto a different sector, cell, or market, mobile device 610 can initiateLAU or RAU to ensure proper delivery and paging of incoming calls.

Display interface 635, which also can reside within functional platform655, facilitates gestures for subscriber-device interaction via at leastone of a screen (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma panel, amonolithic thin-film based electrochromic display . . . ), a soundinterface, and so forth. Additionally, display interface 635 can rendercontent(s) that (i) control functionality of mobile device 610 asavailable in functional platform 655, or (ii) reveal operationconditions thereof. With respect to the latter, in an aspect, displayinterface 635 can convey technology indicator(s), or descriptor(s), inaccordance at least in part with display profile(s) 677, as describedherein. Display interface 635 can indicate available technology asopposed to display only in-use radio technology as performed inconventional mobile devices. When display profile(s) 677 allows, allavailable technologies can be displayed on the device, otherwise aprofile-specified subset can be displayed. It should be appreciated thatdisplay interface 635 exploits information on radio resource(s)availability that is extracted from one or more of scanner component 625modes of operation; namely, active, passive, or hybrid.

To facilitate operation of mobile device 610 in a multi-technologyenvironment in accordance with aspects described herein, as indicatedsupra, memory 675 can retain subscriber-specific network selectionprofile(s) 679 and display profile(s) 677. In an aspect, memory 675 isat least in part a subscriber-specific removable computer-readablestorage medium such as for example a SIM, which can be relocated betweenmobile devices in order to port display and network selectionpreferences. Memory 675 also retains fail-safe algorithm(s) 683 thatfacilitate operation of mobile device 610 when radio technologies deemedpreferred are not available, or technology selector 615 is faulty orunavailable in a mobile device. As an example, when memory 675 is atleast in part a removable computer-readable medium and it is replaced ina mobile device that fails to support multi-technology operation vianetwork selection profile(s) 679, a processor that provides at least aportion of functionality of the mobile device can execute the fallbackfail-safe algorithm(s) 683 to operate the mobile device in a defaultmode. In another aspect, fail-safe algorithm(s) 683 also facilitatesoperation and wireless communication of mobile device 610 via legacyradio technology layer(s).

Additionally, memory 675 can store data structures (e.g., metadata);code structure(s) (e.g., modules, objects, classes, procedures) orinstructions, or substantially any type of software or firmware thatprocessor 665 can execute to provide functionality associated withsubstantially any component, platform, interface, selector and so forth,within mobile 610, in accordance with aspects of the subject innovation.Moreover, memory 655 can also retain (not shown) network or deviceinformation like specifications, address book(s); code sequences forscrambling, spreading, blind decoding hypothesis, semi-persistentscheduling parameters, pilot signal(s) (e.g., reference signal(s));frequency offsets, cell IDs, and so on. Furthermore, memory 675 also canretain content(s) (e.g., multimedia files, subscriber-generated data);security credentials (e.g., passwords, encryption keys, digitalcertificates, biometric reference indicators like voice recordings, irispatterns, fingerprints); hardware identifying tokens such as IMSI, aserial product number such as MEID and the Telecommunications IndustryAssociation (TIA) electronic serial number (ESN); and so forth.

Mobile 610 also includes a processor 665 configured to conferfunctionality, at least in part, to substantially any component,platform, interface, selector and so forth, within mobile 610, inaccordance with aspects of the subject innovation. In embodiment 600,processor 635 is illustrated as external to the various functionalelements (e.g., components, interfaces, platforms, selectors . . . ) ofmobile 610; however, processor 635 can be distributed across suchvarious functional elements. In addition, processor 635 is functionallycoupled (e.g., through a memory bus) to memory 655 in order to store andretrieve information such as code instructions, data structures, etc.,necessary to operate and/or confer functionality, at least in part, tocommunication platform 605, technology selector 615, multimodechipset(s) 645, scanner component 625, display interface 635, functionalplatform 655 and component therein, and other operational components(not shown) of multimode mobile 610.

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate example display instances of a mobile devicein accordance with a received display profile (e.g., display profile475) and end-user-device interaction. In FIG. 7A, diagram 700 presents adisplay 705 that renders a set of available radio technologies in atechnology descriptor panel 708. The technologies rendered are dictatedby a display profile (e.g., display profile 475). In an aspect, anactive technology engaged in communication, e.g., 4G 710 is highlighted,whereas remaining available technologies, e.g., 3G 712 and 2G 714 aredisplayed less prominently. Display 705 also renders a signal strengthindicator (e.g., a set of bars with solid bars conveying a metric ofradio link quality) for each available technology, with active indicatorfor the radio technology for communication. In display 705, a profileicon 716 can be facilitate access to a network selection profile (e.g.,network selection profile 450) and a display profile (e.g., displayprofile 475) retained in the mobile device. In addition, icon profile716 can provide access to service provider customer service to conveyrequests for update profile; interaction among an end user and customerrepresentative can exploit voice or text-based messaging systems like achat session.

With respect to FIG. 7B, diagram 750 illustrates a pop-up window 755that prompts a subscriber to accept 758 or decline 762 premium charges,the charges are incurred for utilization of a profiled technology inaccordance with a network selection profile. Other information can bepresented in pop-up window 755, such as actual charges for profiledtechnology usage. In an aspect, upon acceptance, pop-up window 755 candisplay charges for various session types (e.g., single-call rate,hourly rate, daily rate . . . ), and technology descriptor panel 708switches to highlight the profiled technology. Alternatively, or inaddition, icon 766 can provide access to rate schedules for premiumcharges, or access to customer service in connection with radiotechnology usage; icon 766 also includes substantially all functionalityof profile icon 716. It should be appreciated that other gestures foruser-device interaction like email alert, instant message alert, auralalert, etc., can be employed to prompt a subscriber to determine whetherto accept or reject premium charges and exploit the ensuing profiledradio technology (e.g., 4G technology).

In view of the example systems described above, example methodologiesthat can be implemented in accordance with the disclosed subject mattercan be better appreciated with reference to flowcharts in FIGS. 8-13.For purposes of simplicity of explanation, example methodologiesdisclosed herein are presented and described as a series of acts;however, it is to be understood and appreciated that the claimed subjectmatter is not limited by the order of acts, as some acts may occur indifferent orders and/or concurrently with other acts from that shown anddescribed herein. For example, a methodology disclosed herein couldalternatively be represented as a series of interrelated states orevents, such as in a state diagram. Moreover, interaction diagram(s) mayrepresent methodologies in accordance with the disclosed subject matterwhen disparate entities enact disparate portions of the methodologies.Furthermore, not all illustrated acts may be required to implement amethodology in accordance with the subject specification. Further yet,two or more of the disclosed methodologies can be implemented incombination with each other, to accomplish one or more features oradvantages herein described. It should be further appreciated that themethodologies disclosed throughout the subject specification are capableof being stored on an article of manufacture to facilitate transportingand transferring such methodologies to computers for execution by aprocessor or for storage in a memory.

FIG. 8 presents a flowchart of an example method 800 for establishing asubscriber profile according to aspects of the subject innovation. In anaspect, the subject example method can be enacted via a wireless networkplatform. At 810, a market policy for radio network technology, or radiotechnology, selection preference(s) is established. At act 820, asubscriber policy for radio network technology preference(s) isdetermined. Subscriber policy can be determined per subscriber,identified via an MDN, IMSI, MEID, ENS, or other codes or tokens. At act830, an application policy for radio network technology selectionsettings is defined. Policy can discriminate preference settingsaccording to application type, e.g., voice application, dataapplication, or voice and data application. At act 840, a set ofavailable radio network technologies is determined in order to define atechnology indicator to be displayed in a multi-technology wirelessdevice. A determination can be based on available radio technologyintelligence associated with a wireless network platform. The technologyintelligence can include information on at least one of deployedtechnology layers that facilitate telecommunication in accordance withstandardized protocol for the technology, evolution stages of radiotechnologies deployed and pursued by the wireless network platform, andso on. The network technology indicator, or descriptor, can be definedfor either idle or active mode of operation, or both, of themulti-technology wireless device. At act 850, the market policy, thesubscriber policy, the application policy, and the technology indicator,or descriptor, are aggregated to generate a subscriber profile. In anaspect, the subscriber profile can be grouped into a network selectionprofile and a display profile (see, e.g., FIGS. 4A-4B and FIG. 5). Atact 860, the subscriber profile is retained.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an example method 900 for updating a subscriberprofile. At act 910, a subscriber profile is conveyed. It should beappreciated that a mobile device can enact the subject example method.In an aspect, network selection preferences and display setting fortechnology descriptors can be delivered at a time of provisioning amobile device. At act 920, it is probed whether operation of a mobiledevice remains unchanged. In the negative case, a subscriber profile isupdated. As an example, a subscriber profile can be updated when amobile device moves away from a home market, or when a subscriber isrelocated within a subscriber segmentation. Changes in subscribersegmentation can be the result of, for example, a subscriber acquiringpremium data services. In the positive case, when device operationremains unchanged, it is checked whether an indication to update asubscriber profile is received 930. Update triggers, or the indicationto update a subscriber profile, can be based at least in part on demand,e.g., a subscriber or customer service requesting an update; on aschedule basis, wherein at predetermined times a subscriber update isdelivered; or on an event basis, like when one or more technologylayer(s) are added to a wireless network platform, a new market isvisited, or the like. When a finding of act 930 is that an updatetrigger is received, a subscriber profile is updated at act 940. In anaspect, subscriber profile update includes probing for receiving anupdate confirmation, or acknowledgement, from a mobile device operatedfor the subscriber whose profile is being updated. When anacknowledgement is received, a subscriber update procedure is terminatedas successful. Conversely, when no acknowledgement is received, a finitenumber of successive retry are pursued until either acknowledgement isreceived, or a maximum number (e.g., 5-10) of retries is attained. Inthe latter case, the updated is flagged or logged as unsuccessful.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an example method 1000 for selecting a radiotechnology to operate a multi-technology wireless device in amulti-technology environment according to aspects described herein. Atact 1010, a subscriber profile is received and reception thereof issignaled. A subscriber profile comprises two elements: a networkselection profile, and a display profile. In an aspect, the networkselection profile includes preference setting for selecting a radiotechnology in idle mode or active mode of operation of amulti-technology device that receives the subscriber profile. Networkselection profile and display profile can be formatter according tovarious portable and extensible schema such as HTML, XML, or variationsthereof. At act 1020, the received subscriber profile is retained. In anaspect, subscriber profile can be stored within a removable memoryelement within the device, such as a SIM card. At act 1030, a radionetwork technology is selected according with a set of preferences inthe subscriber profile. In an aspect, radio technologies are prioritizeddifferently for idle mode operation than for active mode operation. Itshould be appreciated that the selection is dynamic: each call or datasession that is active and served through a multi-technology device thatexploits the subscriber profile results in a specific radio networktechnology selection. At act 1040, one or more available radio networktechnologies are displayed in accordance with the received displayprofile included within the received subscriber profile. In an aspect,available radio technologies can be determined by scanning a wirelessenvironment for pilot signal(s) compatible with various radiotechnologies and determining whether signal strength and channel qualitymeet predetermined criteria imposed by radio technology standardprotocols. In addition, or alternatively, radio technology availabilitycan be ascertained through information related to a wireless coveragearea, the information carried in system information broadcast messagesdelivered by one or more technology resources in a serving wirelessplatform. At act 1050, an indication to receive an updated subscriberprofile is conveyed. An indication can be at least one of a SMS message,a reserved bit within a management, or control, frame or protocol dataunit header, a multi-bit word conveyed in an uplink control channel, orthe like. In addition, an update indication or trigger can conveyed ondemand, on a scheduled basis, or on an event basis. At act 1060, areceived subscriber profile update is acknowledged (e.g., via ACKindication, one or more reserved bits in a packet header, alight-payload data packet, a predetermined multi-bit word conveyed in aradio frame . . . ).

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an example method 1100 for selecting a radiotechnology for idle mode operation according to aspects of the subjectinnovation. A mobile device can enact the subject example method. Inaddition, the subject example method can be exploited in conjunctionwith example method 1100. At act 1110, it is evaluated whether an idlemode of operation is taking place. In the negative case, the probe isre-enacted. Conversely, at act 1120 it is probed whether a radio networktechnology for idle mode as dictated in a subscriber profile isavailable. In an aspect, availability can be ascertained by scanning awireless environment for specific broadcast messages, e.g., pilotsignals, that meet a specific set of criteria for signal strength andchannel quality. When the radio network technology is available, flow isredirected to act 1140, in which operation is switched to the radiotechnology network for idle mode as dictated in the subscriber profile.Conversely, when the radio technology is unavailable, a currentavailable radio network technology is retained for idle mode at act1130.

FIG. 12 presents a flowchart of an example method 1200 for managingapplication behavior through a subscriber profile according to aspectsdescribed herein. The subject example method can be enacted by a mobilestation, and it can be exploited in combination with example method 1000or 1100. At act 1210, an application is initiated, or launched. At act1220, it is checked whether the launch occurs in idle mode of operation.In the negative case, which entails the application is launched withinactive operation, at act 1240 operation is switched to a radio networktechnology that facilitates execution of a current application and thenew application. In an aspect, the radio technology that is exploited toexecute the current and new application is inferred and selected basedon cost-utility analysis. Such analysis can be based at least onpreference setting available for the current and new application, and onradio link conditions, and available capacity of a served sector, cell,or market. At act 1250, the current application continues to be executedwhile the new application is launched.

When a finding of act 1220 is that an application is launched within anidle mode of operation, it is evaluated whether active mode RNT inaccordance with subscriber profile is unavailable at act 1230. In thenegative case, operation is switched from idle mode radio networktechnology to an active mode RNT in accordance with a subscriber profileat act 1260, and the application is launched in act 1280. When the RNTin accordance with the subscriber profile is such that a subscriber thatinitiates the application fails to have access to, e.g., because thesubscriber has not contracted services deliver in the RNT, prior tolaunching the application in 1280 the subscriber can be prompted toacquire service that allows access to the RNT. The latter feature can becontrolled through a modifier in the subscriber profile. In theaffirmative case, the active mode RNT in accordance with the subscriberprofile is unavailable, execution of the new application is blocked andthe blockade is notified at act 1270. Notification can be delivered viainstant message, a SMS message, a multimedia message service (MMS),email message, aural or visual alarm, mechanical indication such as avibration of a recipient mobile device, or the like.

FIG. 13 presents a flowchart of an example method 1300 for releasing anapplication according to aspects described herein. A mobile stationgenerally enacts the subject example method. In addition, the subjectexample method can be employed in conjunction with example method 1200.At act 1310, it is inquired whether an application is terminated orreleased. In case the application is terminated, either normally orfaulty, the application is released at act 1320. For example, release ofthe application can include signaling a PDP context deactivation (e.g.,dissociation with a gateway node, release of IP address) to a wirelessnetwork platform that serves at least in part a multi-technology mobiledevice in which the application is terminated. At act 1340, operation isswitched to a radio technology network for idle mode in accordance witha subscriber profile (e.g., FIGS. 4A and 4B, and FIG. 5). It should beappreciated that switching operation to idle mode occurs when thereleased application is the last application to be terminated in amulti-technology mobile device. At act 1350, it is probed whether thearea of coverage (e.g., sector, cell, or market) remains unchanged. Inthe affirmative case, a LAU or RAU procedure is conducted at act 1360 toensure adequate paging and traffic delivery. Conversely, a LAC or RAC isretained at act 1370.

To provide further context for various aspects of the subjectspecification, FIG. 14 presents an example embodiment 1400 of a mobilenetwork platform 1410 that can exploit various technology resources fortelecommunication in accordance with one or more radio technology anddisplay profiles as described herein.

Generally, wireless network platform 1410 can include components, e.g.,nodes, gateways, interfaces, servers, or disparate platforms, thatfacilitate both packet-switched (PS) (e.g., internet protocol (IP),frame relay, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)) and circuit-switched (CS)traffic (e.g., voice and data), as well as control generation fornetworked wireless telecommunication. Mobile network platform 1410includes CS gateway node(s) 1412 which can interface CS traffic receivedfrom legacy networks like telephony network(s) 1440 (e.g., publicswitched telephone network (PSTN), or public land mobile network (PLMN))or a signaling system #7 (SS7) network 1470. Circuit switched gatewaynode(s) 1412, which can embody at least in part gateway node(s) 310, canauthorize and authenticate traffic (e.g., voice) arising from suchnetworks. Additionally, CS gateway node(s) 1012 can access mobility, orroaming, data generated through SS7 network 1470; for instance, mobilitydata stored in a visited location register (VLR), which can reside inmemory 1430. Moreover, CS gateway node(s) 1412 interfaces CS-basedtraffic and signaling and PS gateway node(s) 1018 which can embody atleast in part gateway node(s) 310. As an example, in a 3GPP UMTSnetwork, CS gateway node(s) 1412 can be realized at least in part ingateway GPRS support node(s) (GGSN). It should be appreciated thatfunctionality and specific operation of CS gateway node(s) 1412, PSgateway node(s) 1418, and serving node(s) 1416, is provided and dictatedby technology resource(s) 1417 based at least in part on radiotechnology layer(s) (e.g., radio technology layers 2150 availablethereto.

In the subject innovation, in addition to receiving and processingCS-switched traffic (e.g., content(s) that is part of voice-onlyapplication) and signaling, PS gateway node(s) 1418 can authorize andauthenticate PS-based data sessions with served (e.g., through RAN 285)mobile devices. Data sessions can include traffic, or content(s),exchanged with networks external to the wireless network platform 1410,like wide area network(s) (WANs) 1450; enterprise network(s) 1470, whichcan be embodied in local area network(s) (LANs), can also be interfacedwith mobile network platform 1410 through PS gateway node(s) 1418. It isto be noted that WANs 1450 and enterprise network(s) 1460 can embody, atleast in part, a service network(s) like IP multimedia susbsystem. Basedon radio technology layer(s) available in technology resource(s) 1417,packet-switched gateway node(s) 1418 can generate packet data protocolcontexts when a data session is established; other data structures thatfacilitate routing of packetized data also can be generated. To thatend, in an aspect, PS gateway node(s) 1418 can include a tunnelinterface (e.g., tunnel termination gateway (TTG) in 3GPP UMTSnetwork(s) (not shown)) which can facilitate packetized communicationwith disparate wireless network(s), such as Wi-Fi networks.

In embodiment 1400, wireless network platform 1410 also includes servingnode(s) 1416 that, based upon available radio technology layer(s) withintechnology resource(s) 1417, convey the various packetized flows of datastreams received through PS gateway node(s) 1418. It is to be noted thatfor technology resource(s) 1417 that rely primarily on CS communication,server node(s) can deliver traffic without reliance on PS gatewaynode(s) 1418; for example, server node(s) can embody at least in part amobile switching center. As an example, in a 3GPP UMTS network, servingnode(s) 1416 can be embodied in serving GPRS support node(s) (SGSN).

For technology resource(s) 1417 that exploit packetized communication,server(s) 1414 in wireless network platform 1410 can execute numerousapplications (e.g., location services, online gaming, wireless banking,wireless device management . . . ) that can generate multiple disparatepacketized data streams or flows, and manage (e.g., schedule, queue,format . . . ) such flows. Such application(s) can include add-onfeatures to standard services (for example, provisioning, billing,customer support . . . ) provided by wireless network platform 1410.Data streams (e.g., content(s) that are part of a voice call or datasession) can be conveyed to PS gateway node(s) 1418 forauthorization/authentication and initiation of a data session, and toserving node(s) 1416 for communication thereafter. In addition toapplication server, server(s) 1414 can include utility server(s), autility server can include a provisioning server, an operations andmaintenance server, a security server that can implement at least inpart a certificate authority and firewalls as well as other securitymechanisms, and the like. In an aspect, security server(s) securecommunication served through wireless network platform 1410 to ensurenetwork's operation and data integrity in addition to authorization andauthentication procedures that CS gateway node(s) 1412 and PS gatewaynode(s) 1418 can enact. Moreover, provisioning server(s) can provisionservices from external network(s) like networks operated by a disparateservice provider; for instance, WAN 1450 or Global Positioning System(GPS) network(s) (not shown). Provisioning server(s) can also provisioncoverage through networks associated to wireless network platform 1410(e.g., deployed and operated by the same service provider), such asfemto cell network(s) (not shown) that enhance wireless service coveragewithin indoor confined spaces and offload RAN resources in order toenhance subscriber service experience within a home or businessenvironment.

It is to be noted that server(s) 1414 can include one or more processorsconfigured to confer at least in part the functionality of macro networkplatform 1410. To that end, the one or more processor can execute codeinstructions stored in memory 1430, for example. It is should beappreciated that server(s) 1414 can include a content manager 1415,which operates in substantially the same manner as describedhereinbefore.

In example embodiment 1400, memory 1430 can store information related tooperation of wireless network platform 1410. In particular, memory 1430can include a network policy storage 1435, which comprises market,subscriber, and application policies, in addition to subscriberprofiles, which include network selection profiles and display profilesat the market, subscriber, and application level, as described herein.Other operational information can include provisioning information ofmobile devices served through wireless platform network 1410, subscriberdatabases; application intelligence, pricing schemes, e.g., promotionalrates, flat-rate programs, couponing campaigns; technicalspecification(s) consistent with telecommunication protocols foroperation of radio technology layers within technology resource(s) 1417;and so forth. Memory 1430 can also store information from at least oneof telephony network(s) 1440, WAN 1450, enterprise network(s) 1460, orSS7 network 1470.

It is to be noted that aspects, features, or advantages of the subjectinnovation described in the subject specification can be exploited insubstantially any wireless communication technology. For instance,Wi-Fi, WiMAX, Enhanced GPRS, 3GPP LTE, 3GPP2 UMB, 3GPP UMTS, HSPA,HSDPA, HSUPA, LTE Advanced. Additionally, substantially all aspects ofthe subject innovation as disclosed in the subject specification can beexploited in legacy telecommunication technologies; e.g., GSM.

As it employed in the subject specification, the term “processor” canrefer to substantially any computing processing unit or devicecomprising, but not limited to comprising, single-core processors;single-processors with software multithread execution capability;multi-core processors; multi-core processors with software multithreadexecution capability; multi-core processors with hardware multithreadtechnology; parallel platforms; and parallel platforms with distributedshared memory. Additionally, a processor can refer to an integratedcircuit, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digitalsignal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), aprogrammable logic controller (PLC), a complex programmable logic device(CPLD), a discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardwarecomponents, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functionsdescribed herein. Processors can exploit nano-scale architectures suchas, but not limited to, molecular and quantum-dot based transistors,switches and gates, in order to optimize space usage or enhanceperformance of user equipment. A processor may also be implemented as acombination of computing processing units.

In the subject specification, terms such as “store,” “data store,” datastorage,” “database,” and substantially any other information storagecomponent relevant to operation and functionality of a component, referto “memory components,” or entities embodied in a “memory” or componentscomprising the memory. It will be appreciated that the memory componentsdescribed herein can be either volatile memory or nonvolatile memory, orcan include both volatile and nonvolatile memory.

By way of illustration, and not limitation, nonvolatile memory caninclude read only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), electricallyprogrammable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable ROM (EEPROM), or flashmemory. Volatile memory can include random access memory (RAM), whichacts as external cache memory. By way of illustration and notlimitation, RAM is available in many forms such as synchronous RAM(SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rateSDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), anddirect Rambus RAM (DRRAM). Additionally, the disclosed memory componentsof systems or methods herein are intended to comprise, without beinglimited to comprising, these and any other suitable types of memory.

Various aspects or features described herein may be implemented as amethod, apparatus, or article of manufacture using standard programmingand/or engineering techniques. In addition, various aspects disclosed inthe subject specification can also be implemented through programmodules stored in a memory (e.g., memory 1086 or memory 1255) andexecuted by a processor (e.g., processor 1235), or other combination ofhardware and software, or hardware and firmware. The term “article ofmanufacture” as used herein is intended to encompass a computer programaccessible from any computer-readable device, carrier, or media. Forexample, computer readable media can include but are not limited tomagnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic strips. . . ), optical disks (e.g., compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc(DVD), blu-ray disc (BD) . . . ), smart cards, and flash memory devices(e.g., card, stick, key drive . . . ).

What has been described above includes examples of systems and methodsthat provide advantages of the subject innovation. It is, of course, notpossible to describe every conceivable combination of components ormethodologies for purposes of describing the subject innovation, but oneof ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many furthercombinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter arepossible. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “includes,” “has,”“possesses,” and the like are used in the detailed description, claims,appendices and drawings such terms are intended to be inclusive in amanner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpretedwhen employed as a transitional word in a claim.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: in response to determiningthat an operation of a user equipment has changed, updating, by a systemcomprising a processor, subscriber profile data representing asubscriber profile that specifies a set of radio network technologypreference settings associated with a set of respective applicationsexecutable by the user equipment; and directing, by the system, thesubscriber profile data to the user equipment to facilitate a selectionof a radio network technology that is to be employed by the userequipment for a communication associated with an application of the setof respective applications.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein thedetermining comprises determining that the user equipment has exited aspecified area.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determiningcomprises determining that segmentation data representing a subscriberclassification associated with the user equipment has changed.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, by the system,indication data from the user equipment that triggers the updating. 5.The method of claim 4, wherein the receiving comprises receiving theindication data via a text message.
 6. The method of claim 4, whereinthe receiving comprises receiving the indication data via a controlchannel.
 7. The method of claim 4, wherein the receiving comprisesreceiving information that represents a change in a classificationassociated with a set of access point devices with which the userequipment is determined to communicate.
 8. The method of claim 1,wherein the updating comprises updating policy data indicative of amarket policy.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the updating comprisesupdating policy data indicative of an application policy associated withthe application.
 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:subsequent to the directing and in response to determining thatacknowledgement data that confirms a reception of the subscriber profiledata has not been received, redirecting, by the system, the subscriberprofile data to the user equipment.
 11. A system, comprising: a memoryto store instructions; and a processor, coupled to the memory, thatfacilitates execution of the instructions to perform operations,comprising: determining change data representing a change in anoperation of a user equipment, and in response to the determining,directing, to the user equipment, subscriber profile data indicative ofa subscriber profile that specifies a set of radio network technologypreference settings associated with a set of respective applicationsexecutable by the user equipment, wherein the subscriber profile data isupdated based on the change data and the subscriber profile datafacilitates a selection of a radio network technology that is to beemployed by the user equipment for a communication associated with anapplication of the set of respective applications.
 12. The system ofclaim 11, wherein the change data represents a modification in ageographical area in which the user equipment has been determined to belocated.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein the change data representsa modification in a segmentation data indicative of a subscribercategory associated with the user equipment.
 14. The system of claim 11,wherein the change data represents a modification in classification dataindicative of a category assigned to a set of access point devices withwhich the user equipment is determined to communicate.
 15. The system ofclaim 11, wherein the change data represents a modification in plan dataindicative of a billing rate plan associated with the user equipment.16. The system of claim 11, wherein the subscriber profile data isdetermined based on policy data indicative of an application policyassociated with the application.
 17. A computer-readable storage devicecomprising computer-executable instructions that, in response toexecution, cause a system comprising a processor to perform operations,comprising: in response to determining that operation data indicative ofan operation of a user equipment has changed, updating subscriberprofile data representing a subscriber profile that assigns a set ofradio network technology preference settings to a set of respectiveapplications executable by the user equipment; and facilitating atransmission of the subscriber profile data to the user equipment tofacilitate a selection of a radio network technology that is to beemployed by the user equipment for a communication associated with anapplication of the set of respective applications.
 18. Thecomputer-readable storage device of claim 17, wherein the determiningcomprises determining that the user equipment has exited a specifiedarea.
 19. The computer-readable storage device of claim 17, wherein thedetermining comprises determining that segmentation data representing asubscriber classification associated with the user equipment haschanged.
 20. The computer-readable storage device of claim 17, whereinthe determining comprises determining that plan data indicative of arate plan associated with the user equipment has changed.